IOM and Japan Launch New Project to Support Vocational Training for Youth and Displaced Communities in Yemen

Aden, Yemen – 13 July 2025 

Amid ongoing economic hardship caused by over a decade of conflict in Yemen, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Government of Japan have signed a USD 2.49 million agreement to launch a new project that will support youth and internally displaced persons (IDPs)  through vocational training opportunities.

The project signing ceremony was hosted by H.E. Ambassador Yoichi Nakashima at the Embassy of Japan in Saudi Arabia and attended by H.E. Dr. Mansour Ali Bajash, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs at Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Through this initiative, six Technical and Vocational Training Centres (TVTCs) in conflict-affected governorates—Aden, Lahj, and Ta’iz—will be rehabilitated and equipped to meet the needs of students and the labour market. In response to the suspension of over 37 per cent of vocational specializations due to infrastructure damage, the project will restore or construct 48 classrooms, 31 workshops, 10 laboratories, and 13 administrative offices.

To support the integration of the graduates into the labour market, 220 students will be selected and trained in high-demand livelihood and business skills that are essential for establishing sustainable income streams. Upon completion of the training, graduates will receive tailored start-up kits which include tools relevant to their vocational fields. These kits are designed to help graduates launch small businesses within their communities and allow them to put theory into practice.

Since 2015, student enrollment in TVTCs has declined by approximately 55 per cent. This initiative will enable 3,000 individuals — including over 700 displaced persons — to return to the classroom and access high-quality, market-relevant vocational training.

“This project will restore dignity and offer hope by equipping thousands of young people with the skills they need to build sustainable livelihoods,” said Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Yemen. “We are deeply grateful to the Government of Japan for its continued commitment to Yemen’s stability and recovery”.

To ensure inclusive and sustainable learning environments, the project will also provide capacity-building for TVTC instructors, install solar power systems in five of the six centres, and construct new water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities that are accessible to persons with disabilities.

With an estimated 19.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and 17.1 million facing food insecurity in 2025, this initiative is expected to indirectly benefit more than 1.7 million people by expanding access to livelihoods, strengthening local economies, and fostering community cohesion.

This project builds on a recently concluded USD 800,000 partnership between IOM and the Government of Japan, which improved access to healthcare, drinking water, and sanitation services for more than 33,000 people in Mokha, Al Khukhah, and Ta’iz.

For more information, please contact:
IOM Yemen Communications Team: iomyemenmediacomm@iom.int